First things first

[Tifecta]

Which came first the League or the team?

Austin seems to be the only team in the new SIFL? If it is a Spring League time is running out to get this underway.

Seems optimistic to sell season tickets to a team that has no opponents.

Seems like they should not rush into anything as you only get ONE shot to make a first impression.

[fred1965]

Be patient, tifecta.

Most of what you see in January has little or nothing to do when the season begins.

[sportznut]

6 teams, we start in April

Just because you do not see info on OSC doesnt mean it is not being put out in the communities where the teams will play.

Austin PR guy hits OSC with every release, thats is why there is more Austin info here.

In the Intense League last season, Very few teams actually sent press release out that included OSC.

[fred1965]

And some of the stuff Austin sent wasn't big news.

Turfcats have a facebook page. Turfcats have a chaplain.

That's nice.

They're doing a good job of getting the word out, but I'll wait until the season starts to render judgement.

[preeths]

Start sending them here! It's just one more email address to cc to.

[exit322]

It's only intelligent to send out press for every little thing. More teams should be doing that, for all the more it costs in time and effort.

[Tifecta]

I wish everyone well..It just seems to me that they are cutting it too close. The Wranglers tried to do it all in 3 months (receive UT approval in Nov....Played first game in Feb.) and they spent a ton of money to market the team. Time will tell but the conventional wisdom is Measure twice and cut once.......Take time to make your first impression.

In today's economy customers will not invest on the come....They will not plunk down money based on the fact that teams are going to be in place when it is time to go to the games.

Just seems like they are rushing things a bit..

[Caballo Diablo]

I wish everyone well..It just seems to me that they are cutting it too close. The Wranglers tried to do it all in 3 months (receive UT approval in Nov....Played first game in Feb.) and they spent a ton of money to market the team. Time will tell but the conventional wisdom is Measure twice and cut once.......Take time to make your first impression.

In today's economy customers will not invest on the come....They will not plunk down money based on the fact that teams are going to be in place when it is time to go to the games.

Just seems like they are rushing things a bit..

I understand what you're saying and I too wish there was more info being put out league wide.

I also agree about the Wranglers, Greg Feste (the orig owner) pushed too fast and many even felt it would have been better to put an af2 team in Austin instead of an AFL one. Mr. Feste was run out of town after one year and eventually his entire corporate world crashed around him in the midst of scams and fraud.

The first couple of years the Wranglers tried hard to advertise and promote the AFL and the Wranglers, they were always treated like a bad virus by the local media as everything not the University of Texas is, and many minor league sports are nation wide.

GDS&M, one of the nations largest advertising companies, and based in Austin felt it would take one $1 to 1.5 mil to even dent the Austin market.
Even if the marketing campaign would have filled the arena (which is highly doubtfull) it wouldn't have been enough to recoup the cost of the advertising.
This makes the ad campaign a no win situation, especially without any local media outlets giving the sport any creedence.

It's already too late for a "first Impression" in the Austin market.
The AFL Wranglers averaged 10k to 11k depending on where you get the figures from, but it still seemed light in a 15k arena. Once they dropped to the af2 for financial reasons the fan base was upset, they didn't accept the lesser talent for only a small decrease in ticket pricing. Thus the af2 team only averaged around 3k to 3.5 k and even though it was on par with many af2 teams it looked pathetic in the 15k seat arena.

Austin had no other arena to meet the Arena League's requirements so they couldn't move to a more affordable one and reduce the ticket prices further.
One is under construction and supposed to be open in Oct. `09.

The SIFL has different requirements and has secured a smaller arena which has been used in the past for an Indoor Football team and CHL Hockey. This helps to keep the product more affordable for the fans. So this league doesn't need as many Butts in the seats as the Arena Leagues. If they could start out with half of what the af2 Wranglers drew and build up from there it should be just fine.

There is still a real fan base to support a team, then as in all of minor leagues the largest portion of Butts in seats aren't necessarily true fans but just people looking for a good value on their entertainment dollar.

We have been trying to push out as much info as possible to avoid the
"out of sight - out of mind" syndrome. Hopefully todays initial press conference will be a success and the local media will accept (or even acknowledge) the TurfCats.

[exit322]

It will get there. Don't get discouraged, keep up the work. It will come with diligence and professionalism.

[Tifecta]

Look forward to hearing about the press conference.

Diablo, Are you on the Turfcats staff? You mentions "we" in your post.

[Caballo Diablo]

Look forward to hearing about the press conference.

Diablo, Are you on the Turfcats staff? You mentions "we" in your post.
No, not on their staff (some friends are).
I've been trying to post as much info as possible on various forums and have been spreading the word across Wrangler Nation.

My daughter and I are home sick with the flu so I won't be able to attend today's press conference. Mr. Oswalt and Mr. Dixon will fill me in on happenings.

Many things are done by interns and volunteers, it's been me and Mr. Oswalt that have been posting the information.

I understand "we, my, our," are terms some object to if they don't actually own the team , company, or product being discussed. Many times fans will talk about their teams in these terms, such as "My team will be in the SuperBowl," etc.

I'm committed to helping this team and league become not only a known commodity, but hopfully a successful one too. I had been very active in both of the Arena Leagues and hope to continue with the SIFL.

[sportznut]

And we Appreciate your efforts!!